title: Documenting the need for nutrition and health intervention for middle-aged and older adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta region.
abstract: Multiple demographic, health, and environmental factors may influence the overall quality of diets among rural middle-aged and older adults. This project compared the diet quality of participants in Foods of Our Delta Survey (FOODS 2000) who were aged 55 years and older with national data. The data were assessed using 24-hour dietary recall methodology and a modified version of the United States Department of Agriculture Healthy Eating Index (HEI) that excluded the sodium component. The mean total Modified Healthy Eating Index (MHEI) study score was significantly lower than their counterparts from the national survey (61.0 +/- 0.68 vs. 65.6 +/- 3.65, P < 0.0001). Race and educational attainment were associated with higher MHEI scores. This study emphasized a critical need for implementing nutrition and health interventions in rural communities with special attention to subpopulations at risk.
authors.affiliation: Southern University, A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA. glenda_johnson@suagcenter.com
authors.forename: Glenda S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Bernestine B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gossett
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Pippa M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bogle
authors.forename: Dawanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: James-Holly
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCabe-Sellers
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008922:Mississippi; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data